Awful treatment of grieving family. They will not even let me post a memory on my mother's tribute page!
My mother recently passed away. She assigned her eldest son as "agent" to handle her final arrangements.
There were 2 viewings from 2pm-4pm and from 7pm-9pm. During the evening viewing at approximately 8:30pm my niece was asked by an associate of Dorsey Funeral Home to go with him under the guise of discussing her role in the funeral Mass being held the next day. The man took her to the funeral director's office where another man, the agent was already waiting. The associate then closed & blocked the door rendering it impossible for her to leave. She was then verbally assaulted by the agent who interrogated my niece about a photo my mother (the deceased) had given her. She tried to get away but was unable to because the associate prevented her from leaving. This poor young woman, who was grieving the loss of her grandmother, was barricaded in a room without her permission, with 2 men where she felt threatened, victimized and in harm's way. After some time, she was able to get out of the directors' office, fortunately without any physical harm, however given her fragile state she was emotionally distraught and extremely shaken up. These 2 men exploited and took advantage of a grieving young woman whom they bullied and intimidated while in a very fragile and vulnerable state, mourning the loss of her beloved grandmother.
On the same day upon returning from the break between viewings at approximately 6:40pm this same associate attempted to stop us from entering the viewing room where our mother was. When we informed him that we were the 2 daughters and 2 granddaughters of the deceased he blocked the room and extended his arms to prevent us from entering. We again stated we were next of kin to the deceased. He would not move, trying to block the wide entrance. Because the entrance was larger than his arm span, we were able to get into the room.
The next day was the final PRIVATE FAMILY viewing and funeral mass. We were told that the immediate FAMILY was to arrive at 9am to say our final good-byes to our mother/grandmother. We arrived 15 minutes early. When trying to enter we found the doors to the facility locked & were told we were not allowed to enter until the agent arrived.
Even after the agent arrived, we were still locked out without reason. The staff at allowed 7 other people to enter for the PRIVATE FAMILY viewing, NONE of whom were related to the deceased. One person admitted the day before that she never even met our mother. A total stranger was allowed in for the PRIVATE FAMILY viewing, but the staff would not allow her next of kin to enter. When we again asked to be let in the person at the door threatened to call the police. What we were doing to involve the police is a mystery. For the entire day prior, during the 2 viewings, myself, my sister, my niece and my daughter graciously received family and friends who came to pay their respects. There were no incidents or issues caused by us. The only incident was the one caused by the staff member and agent, as mentioned above , when they held a young woman against her will in the director's office.
There was no reason for us to be locked out of the private FAMILY viewing. We were the next of kin, we were there as per instruction to pay our final respects to our mother/grandmother. No reason was ever given as to why we were not allowed to enter.
Because we were locked out and prevented from paying our final respects at the FAMILY viewing, we had no choice but to leave and go to the church where her funeral mass was being held. They prevented us from having the opportunity to say goodbye to our mother/grandmother before her cremation. They have forever taken that away from us.
The most important job as funeral director along with their staff is to assist the grieving family of the deceased. To have compassion and sympathy in an extremely emotional and difficult time. Dorsey Funeral Home and its staff did anything BUT those things. The actions of the staff were criminal. They should lose their license. read more
